The Victoria Inn

With imaginative pub food and easy access to a safe sandy beach and the coastal footpath, this striking, pink-washed village inn is a favoured summer destination for rest and refreshment. Arrive early for a seat in the Mediterranean-style patio garden. Dating from the 12th century it is reputedly Cornwall's oldest inn. The typically Cornish stone-walled bar, adorned with various seafaring and fishing memorabilia, is popular with famished coast path walkers and families strolling up from the beach. Food is taken seriously here, with chef-patron Stewart Eddy cooking the best fish, seafood and quality seasonal ingredients with care and simplicity. The result is earthy, flavoursome dishes that pack a punch. At dinner, perhaps follow slow-roasted Primrose Herd pork belly with a selection of cheeses from artisan producers. Add traditional lunch dishes, Sharp's Doom Bar and St Austell Tribute on tap, and two individually decorated en suite bedrooms, and you have a cracking Cornish coastal gem.